Newsletter spread 10/08/05 12:58 pm Page 1 SUMMER 2005 Welcome to Sallins Parish A Brief History of Sallins Parish Previous to 1972 the canal formed the boundary between When change came to the parish in the mid 1990’s it Everyone living in Sallins is very Naas and Kill parishes.This left Sallins Church and school came in a dramatic way. New housing estates suddenly conscious that it is growing rapidly: in Naas parish while all of the houses north of the canal and sprung up, the railway station re-opened after over thirty so rapidly that it is hard to keep in the surrounding area were in Kill parish. In response to pace with the changes. Often, it years closure and suddenly Sallins was no longer a village. the wishes of many people in Sallins and in order to ratio- In 1993 ten children were baptised in Sallins, in 2004 the seems, we do not have the time or nalise the situation, Bishop Lennon established the new number was eighty nine. The sudden surge in population opportunity to say welcome to parish of Sallins in December 1972. The townslands of put pressure on the school. An extension of seven rooms people as they move in. Osberstown and Monread North were taken from Naas parish, the townsland of Waterstown from Caragh and the was approved in 1999 but by the time building began in Accordingly I am delighted to townslands of Sallins, Castlesize, Bodenstown, Lady Hill, 2004 it was no longer sufficient. Approval has now been introduce this welcome and infor- Little Rath, Daars North, Shortwood, Daars South, given for a further eight classrooms.The parish will eventu- mation newsletter on Sallins Prospect, Sherlockstown, Sherlockstown Common to the ally have a twenty four classroom school with 720 pupils. parish. It has been produced by a west of the Morell River, and Kerdiffstown were taken from The population of the parish is now probably around five group of parishioners as part of the Kill parish.Territorially it was a small parish and the popu- thousand. diocesan initiative Reach Out lation was also relatively small at around one thousand peo- Such a radically changing Sallins presents many chal- which was launched by Bishop ple.The pastoral care of the parish was assigned to Fr. Larry lenges for the people of the parish. How do we reach out to Moriarty last Christmas. On behalf Newman. In 1982 he was transferred to Newbridge parish newcomers and make them welcome? What new parish structures while Fr. Colm Swan took up the post of parish priest in of the parish, this group feels that it do we need to put in place? What do we do with our church which Sallins where he served until his retirement in 2004. is important that we say hello to now seems to be too small? What sort of facilities do we need to one another and welcome those Within a very short time the new parish established its own identity and became a cohesive self-supporting unit. serve the needs of the parish? What do we do with the deteriorat- who have recently moved into the The conference of the St. Vincent DePaul Society estab- ing community/parish centre? To gether parishioners will have parish. lished in the early seventies is still very active while the to find the best way forward and provide support. annual parish pilgrimage to Lourdes is now in its thirtieth Meanwhile we continue to gather at Sunday Mass and I hope you have successfully set up year. New housing was provided in St Brigid’s Terrace and other celebrations at the Church of Our Lady and the home in Sallins and that you will Hillview during the sixties and seventies and it was neces- Guardian Angels. We need Readers and Ministers of the be happy here. You are very wel- sary to build a new eight room school in the mid seventies. Eucharist, the choir, which sings at the 11am Sunday Mass come. Hopefully we can, together, A meat processing factory in the centre of the village along welcomes new members, there are tentative plans to form build up a living vibrant commu- with Odlum’s mills provided steady employment. The another group to lead singing at another week-end Mass, we nity in this place. If you are a parish remained very happily attached to its humble church need to build up active participation in our liturgical cele- Catholic I hope you will join us which was erected in 1923. In the seventies the altar was brations. On-going financial support is also necessary.We do on Sundays and enrich the life of moved to the centre of the building and the domestic feel our parish. of their building strengthened. From time to time there not, as yet, have a parish office. The provision of such an seems to have been talk of a new church, some land was office is a project for the future. In the meantime the acquired in the 1960’s but a new building did not materi- parochial house is the contact place for the parish, To m McDonnell P.P alise. Since 2000 the ‘temporary’ pre-fab has been listed by Telephone 045-897150. If you would like to become the local authority as a protected structure. more involved please do not hesitate to make contact. SALLINS PARISH CHURCH The church in Sallins is such a humble structure World War and the War of Independence delayed the dedication and celebrated the first Mass in the that many people have been passing through the the project and when it was resumed in 1923 it chapel. He gave it the duel dedication of Our town for years without realising there is a church was decided to erect an economical building. Lady of the Rosary and the Guardian Angels and here, indeed some have lived here for a year or Harrison & Co. of Camberwell in London had announced the dedication was taking place free of two before they become aware of its existence. supplied the British army camps during the war debt at a total cost of £870. When discovered and visited all are struck by its and it was decided to buy one of their buildings. The interior remained unchanged until Sallins intimate prayerful interior which has a special The building in kit form and some employees of became a parish in 1972 when the altar was moved charm despite the humble nature of the structure. Harrison’s arrived at Sallins station and the struc- to one side half way down the building in order to Before the First World War the people of ture was erected by early 1924. One of the gather the people around the altar as recommend- Sallins petitioned Fr. Michael Norris, the parish employees, Edward Laxton, settled in Sallins ed by the Second Vatican Council. In 1990 a priest of Naas, to build a chapel in Sallins to save where he raised a family. Local men also worked replacement floor was fitted. Otherwise the build- them the journey to Naas for Sunday Mass. A on the project and the building was completed ing which is effectively a pre-fabricated structure committee raised £400 and Fr. Norris arranged to and fitted out as a chapel ready for dedication on has survived very well. In 2000 it was listed as a make a site available. The troubled period of the Sunday 4th October 1924. Fr. Norris carried out protected structure by Kildare County Council. Newsletter spread 10/08/05 12:58 pm Page 2 The Tuesday Badminton Club Club Sallins Badminton club was founded in 1984 and once boasted a membership The Tuesday Club has been meeting of 70 members - an astounding figure on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for when one considers that there is only the past eighteen years. It started with one court. That was at at time when St. Vincent forty five to fifty members, with mem- badminton enjoyed a huge surge of bership decreasing over the years. popularity in the Country. We meet on de Paul Society Entertaining consists of special out- Thursdays at 9.00pm in the communi- ings including weekends away, bingo, ty centre. We only have one court but St. Vincent de Paul Society are represented card playing, tea/coffee and chat every we try to make sure that all members in Sallins by a Conference of the Guardian second Tuesday of the month from get at least three games per night. Angels. The Sallins Conference is a visita- 2.00pm to 4.30pm approx. Membership fee for the year is €15 tion Conference. The work of the and the nightly fee is €2. Conference is concerned with families in New members and new ideas If anybody would like to join us just need. Much of the work extends to the come along to the club any important supply of fuel during the severe always welcome. Thursday night and you will be made weather, and also to aid people with most welcome. Education Projects. The Area President has Contact: Mary O’Farrell 045-876676 Contact Sheila Swan PRO made funds available to aid in this work and the conference keeps education as a special priority. Some funds have been used to pro- vide families with holidays at Vincent de Paul Venues – eg Carne Holiday House A meeting of Alcoholics Rosslare Co. Waterford. Anonymous is held every Sunday The Conference meets at 7.30pm every night in the Community Centre in Monday night for the entire year in the Sallins commencing at 8.30pm.